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How to Set Up the MASCHINE MK3 Integration for Ableton Live

Note: MASCHINE controller integration with Ableton Live 11 is not yet supported. Official integration scripts will be released with a future update.

Note: If you want to use the Maschine MK3 legacy Template or set up Ableton Live for other MASCHINE controllers, please refer to this article instead.

This article explains how to set up the MASCHINE MK3 controller for Ableton Live 9 and 10.

Installing the MIDI Remote Scripts

In this section, you will learn how to copy the MASCHINE MK3 MIDI Remote Scripts to Ableton Live's MIDI Remote Scripts directory. This will allow Ableton Live to recognize MASCHINE MK3 as a control surface.

Mac

  1. Ensure that Ableton Live is not running.
  2. Navigate to the following folder: Macintosh HD > Library > Application Support > Native Instruments > Host Integration > Ableton Live
  3. Copy both the "_NativeInstruments" and the "Maschine_Mk3" folders to your clipboard by selecting them both (you can do this by clicking them while holding down the cmd key of your computer's keyboard), right-clicking the selection and choosing Copy 2 items.
    Copy_2_Items_from_Host_Integration_Folder.png
  4. Open your Applications folder and right-click the Live application symbol. In the context menu, click on Show Package Contents.
    Ableton_10_show_package_contents.png
  5. In the Ableton Live package, navigate to Contents > App-Resources > MIDI Remote Scripts.
  6. Paste the folder you have copied to your clipboard into the "MIDI Remote Scripts" folder:
    Paste_2_items_mac.png

Windows

  1. Ensure that Ableton Live is not running.
  2. Navigate to the following folder: C: > Program Files > Common Files > Native Instruments > Host Integration > Ableton Live.
  3. Copy both the "_NativeInstruments" and the "Maschine_Mk3" folders to your clipboard by selecting them both (you can do this by clicking them while holding down the CTRL key of your computer's keyboard), right-clicking the selection and choosing Copy.
    RightClick-cut.png
  4. Go to the MIDI Remote Scripts folder in Ableton Live's installation directory. By default, it is located here: C: > ProgramData > Ableton > Live 9 / 10 > Resources > MIDI Remote Scripts.

    Note: The Program Data folder may be hidden. This article explains how to display hidden files and folders in Windows.

  5. Paste the folder you have copied to your clipboard into the "MIDI Remote Scripts" folder.
    AbletonLiveMIDIResoureces_Maschine2.PNG

Configuring Ableton Live for the MASCHINE MK3 Template

Once the MIDI remote scripts are installed in the correct location, you need to activate MASCHINE MK3 as Control Surface in Ableton Live's preferences.

  1. Start Ableton Live.
  2. Open Ableton Live's Preferences and go to the Link MIDI Tab.
  3. Assign a free Control Surface slot to Maschine Mk3 by selecting it from the drop-down list.
    Select_Maschine_MK3_as_control_surface.png
  4. Leave both the Input and the Output for the Maschine Mk3 control surface set to None.
    Input_and_output_is_none.png

Switch your MASCHINE MK3 Controller to Control Ableton Live

When Maschine Mk3 is defined as Control Surface Ableton Live, all you need to do is switch the controller to Ableton.

  • This is done automatically if there are no MASCHINE instances present.
  • If other MASCHINE instances are present (plug-in or standalone), press simultaneously SHIFT + PLUG-IN on your controller to access the Instance page. Then select "Ableton Live" as Instance.

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